Remortgage during work - valuation?

[nikki1978]

We are about to remortgage and will be hopefully borrowing extra to fit out the extension we are about to build (we have money for the building work currently). However although the inside of the house has been partly redecorated the kitchen has been stripped of wallpaper ready for when we knock through and the garden has been entirely dug up ready to returf in April. Will this sort of thing affect the valuation? Our attached neighbour sold last month for £18k more than we paid in 2013 and our house is 200 sq ft bigger. But I am worried how much the garden is going to affect things. We are going with a new lender so they will definitely come and look.

Have you asked a local estate agent to come and have a quick look. If you explain why they often are happy to help. Then if you have an idea from the estate agent you go in with some knowledge when asking for the extra ££

Not really if it's cosmetic. Our valuation for remortgage was affected by us not having a roof on. And then by having two bathrooms unfitted. When we had our final inspection we had no wallpaper in several rooms and the deck was only partially timbered and he cared not a jot.

We asked an estate agent to come round. They valued it first. Then we had a surveyor come for the actual remortgage. They just did a drive by. Never stepped in the house and didn't even tell us what day they were coming.

Their valuation was £25k lower than the estate agent's but it was enough to get the money we needed for the extension.

Good luck!